Spray nozzle



Feb. 5, 1952 F. BARKER ErAL SPRAY NOZZLE Filed July 16, 1948 Fig. 2.

f e k r 0 B k n m F.

Walter E. Dean IN V EN TORS Patented Feb. 5, 1952 OFFICE 2,584,661 SPRAY NOZZLE Frank Barker-and Walter E. Dean, Conway, Wash.

Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,053

This invention relates to spray nozzles for attachments to airplanes and is adapted to be secured in position on the spray supply manifold or boom in position to deflect the spray into fine particles which are then caught up by the air pressure created by the speed of the airplane to convert the finespray into a fog for covering the field in a veritable blanket of dust.

While the peacetime use if primarily directed to spraying crops, eliminating weeds, etc., it is of course readily understood that in times of warfare the spray nozzle is adapted to as effectively 1 Claim. (01. 299-428) provide a fog-spray of poison gases or fog screen tion, or to provide a protecting screen for advancing troops, as the case may be.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a nozzle that is adapted to divide a stream of fluid, and dust into fine particles, such means being provided by a conical deflector of specific diameters, the size of the deflector controlling the spray size.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to control the velocity of spray, such means being a reduced outlet adjacent the spray producing means whereby the velocity of the fluid is increased to more readily atomize.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve means that is readily unseated when the nozzle is in operation and is adapted to automatically shut off the valve when the fluid under pressure is cut-oil.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device that is readily installed in planes and is durable in construction, economical in manufacture and effective for the intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention attached to a supply manifold;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view looking up and is taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view and is taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a view of the spray nozzle attached to the manifold or boom of an airplane.

Referring to Figure 5 for the moment, the spray nozzle of the invention is indicated generally by numeral l0 and is illustrated 'wel'dedto the manifold or boom l2 provided in the airplane whereby the fluid or such to be sprayed is supplied.

Figures 1 through 4 illustrate in detail the construction of the spray nozzle Ill which consists of a spray housing M and a valve structure ll.

Spray housing It includes a nozzle body It of cylindrical construction and preferably of alu minum, although any other suitable non-corrosive material may be substituted therefor. The nozzle body It is closed at one end I 8 and is apertured axially of end H3 at 20 to receive therethrough a bolt or rod 22 headed at 24. A guide sleeve 25 extends the longitudinal and axial length of thenozzle body 16 and is adapted to retain the shank portion of bolt 22. Headed end 24 is positioned exteriorly of end- 18 and thereby prevents further inward movement of bolt 22.

As is best illustrated in Figure 4, a spider 28, apertured axially at 3fl constitutes the velocity control means for the spray nozzle and further provides a seat for one end of a compression spring 32. Spring 32 is seated on the forward end of bolt 22 and urges outwardly conical deflector 34. Deflector 35 is axially bored at 36 and is threaded to be mounted on the threaded extremity 3B of bolt 22 and is retained in position by means of lock nut 40.

The deflecting surface of the vaporizing member 34 tapers outwardly at 42 and terminates in a lateral, annular flange 44, in order to efiectively break up the stream emitted through nozzle body [6 into extremely fine particles. The diameter of deflector 34 determines the size of spray, since the larger the diameter the finer the spray or atomized particles will be.

Nozzle body It contains a pair of ports 46 on the lower portion thereof adjacent the closed end l8 and ports 46 are enclosed by a depending sleeve 4'8. Sleeve 48 is secured in any desired manner to body l6 as by welding or the like. Sleeve 48 is apertured transversely at one side thereof at 50 to retain thereon a valve housing 52. Valve housing 52 includes an annular flange or shoulder 54 to provide a restricted outlet 56. A ball valve 58 is adapted to seat on shoulder 54 when normally in inoperative position, and thereby prevents drip of fluid when the supply is shut ofi. Flange or shoulder 54 also provides the stop means for the bottom of the lower free end of sleeve 68. Valve housing 52 is counterbored and apertured at to receive flush therein headed screws 6| in order to secure the valve housing to sleeve 48. An annular clamp 62 is positioned around screw GI to retain it and thereby valve housing and spray housing M in operative relation. A tension nut 64 extends through one end of clamp 62 and urges a U-shaped bar 56 obviously curved to conform to the outer surface of valve housing 52 into tightly securing position.

In use, fluid under pressure is supplied to valve housing 52 and readily unseats ball valve 58, to permit fluid to pass through ports 46 and into nozzle body [6. The fluid is deflected toward spider member 28 and the velocity thereof is reduced due to the restricted outlets provided at 68. Upon emerging from nozzle body IS, the fluid expands and strikes conical bafile 34 and is directed along the tapered surface 42 thereof to be laterally atomized by annular flange 4'4. The speed of the airplane, creating a great air pressure catches the fine spray and further atomizes the fluid into a foglike blanket. When the supply has stopped, ball valve 58 again seats on seat 54 to effectively prevent back drip of any fluid that may have remained in the nozzlebody. Spring 32 constantly urges deflector 34 in outward position, and the space therebetween is adjusted :by rotation of lock nut 40, and thereby varies the velocity of spray from an extremely fine spray when close to body member IE to a somewhat coarser spray as the distance is increased. v

Any suitable material desired may be employed in the construction of the device. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that it is not confined to the precise details of construction set forth, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A spray assembly consisting of a cylindrical nozzle body having an open end, ports on one side of said body, a deflector adjustably secured axially of said body and spaced outwardly from said open end, said deflector having a conical portion and a peripheral flange at the base of the conical portion, a threaded rod secured to said body axially thereof and supporting said deflector, said rod having a nut engaging the side of said deflector remote from said body and adjustably holding the deflector on said rod, a spider in said body adjacent said deflector, a spring coaxially arranged on said rod between said deflector and said spider and held under varying degrees ofcompression according to the adjustment of said nut, a sleeve secured to said body and enclosing said ports, a valve housing secured to said sleeve, said housing having a valve seat at its outer end, and a valve in said sleeve and normally seated on said valve seat.

- FRANK BARKER.

WALTER E. DEAN" REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Date 

